Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-09-23
REV. DIR. MINER REPLIES.
Cold Comfort For the Agonized Anti
SnlOOnIata.

SViu OVmiVEt TUT tho hBOnihcu amy
SnlOonists.
Massachusetts, Prohibiionisis Refuse 10 As-
suogc The Gri9 ofMe Weeping and Wdit-
ing Republican, PolitieiuHs-"W have
iSammered You and Wint.,ed You, aud
You Cannot be Depended On 10 Do Any
Effective Work IN Suppres'ing Sdioons"-
"Coid Facts" and Frozen Truth.
The pi,cous appeal to the Temperance Re.
publican- Of Massachusetts, signed by Re
publican United States Senators, Congress
men, clergmen aud State legislators Of that
State, has been answered by Rev. DR.. 4. A..
| Miner, the Prohibition party
leader, III the following sringng letter:
"7o Hon. Henry l. Ddtres, Hon. Gro. F..
Hoar Hon. John ID. Long and IL others, lay
and clerical ii-Genilemen-four recent
manfeao to The Temperance Republicans
OF Massachusetts, reflects upon the action
OF the Prohibitory party in a manner that
calls for remark. Your document is we'll
written and plausible, but deceptive and
misleading in its positions. Had 1t no
clerical names attached, IL would be less
palpable afront to the Christian conscience
of the Commonwealth. Such is the wont
of politicians. II is noticeable that you
do not assume TO speak III the name OF the
Republican party, but only Of a faction OF
that party, the Anti-Saloon Republicans,'
and their number you leave very uncer-
tain. You imply, It is true, that the 100
who voted for the submission OF the Amend
ment resolve, are all opposed TO the saloon.
Nothing can be more deceptive. 1t is we'll
known that many Of them favored the re-
solve simply on the ground that the peo-
pie have a right 10 pass upon the question;
and many others, II is believed, favored il,
hoping that by some chance, through re-
lection by the people or otherwise, the Re
publican party might be rid Of this bete
noir. Your party Convention did not fav-
or the Amendment itself, but simply fav-
ored submitting the question TO the peo-
pie, leaving you entirely at liberty TO op-
pose the measure when it should come be-
tore the people, rs your brethren have done
In Michigan, Texas and other places.
"But, gentlemen, what is it you, Ms ANTI
Saloonists,' complain Off Is it the exis-
tence of the saloon? BY no means. Is it
the 'despotism' of the saloon. its political
and pecuninry exaciions,' its power and
tyranny'7 Where is the bold demand that
| he han1 ,toIxt IL,
suppressed? You look tor il In vain.
You do, indeed, say, we believe the bet
ter sentiment of Massachusetts, is for its
suppression, but lest you had gone little
too far and might sacrifice the saloon vote,
you Immediately added, and certainly will
not submit TO see it extend its control OF
our State and local governmental That,
gentlemen, lets up Handsomely, and puts
the matter all right. The saloon may con-
tinue may even preserve its present 'des-
potisn,' It's political aud pecuniary exact.
ions,' its power and tyranny but the
better sentiment of the State will not sub.
nit TO see that 'deapotism' extended. How
very exacting and unreasonable the better
sentiment OF the State must be Even
this, il will be observed, is not claimed
for the Republican party, not even for
yourselves, 'Anti-Saloonisls' though you
are, but for the better sentiment Of the
State, Nor are you more successful in
your proofs OF the high temperance char
acter oil the present Legislature. Among
the bills passed by il there is not one tha
will essentially disturb single liquor sell
Ter in the State; while several OF them, b,
implication, affirm the shameful charnc
ter of existing laws, and therefore of thu
Legislature that left them still in force.
"For example, you make a virtue o
voiding by law license on conviction o
its holder for violating its conditions. D,
you suppose that one in ten licensed deal
ers iails 10 violate his license every weel
day? Do you suppose one in a hundred
who do violate the conditions OF their Ii
censes is prosecuted 10 final judgment
But if he is, and the license becomes leg
ally void, it does not follow that the bus
iness will cease. Are there not thousand
to-day selling liquor in Boston wllhou
licenses? Besides, il voiding license i
nn honor worth boasIing of, what must tn,
giving of license be2 Is it possible
this is but dust in the eyes of the people
Take another most notable instance OF NOR
nj weakness in the years history cited
Your Governor recommended the limiting
Of the licenses TO l in 500 Of the popula-
ton. A bill was reported and lost. Prob
ably both the Governor and the Legisla-
ture knew-surely, gentlemen, you mus
know-ihat no such law is needed. Th
existing law especially provide. that moth
ing therein contained shall be construe,
to compel the granting OF any licenses
The Governor would have been in the ex.
nci line Of law and OF duty, whatever ma,
have been the vote Of Boston, TO forbit
the granting OF a single license.
Zone would conclude from the tone O
Boston is responsible for the liquor sellin
of Boston. The truth IL, the nulhorit,
r on this subject, as you well know, gentle
= men, is not in any degree in the hands q
/, the City Government of Boston. but whol
e ly III the hands Of the Republican party c
the State. The Governor appoints til
, Police Commissioners. the Commissioner
, grant The licenses and control the polio
force, executing the law or leaving 1t un
4, executed, Ms they ohoose. Not a singl
Z saloon IN Boston carries on the license
quori husiners without the direct sanction
backing and protection of the immediai
, head Of your party in the Stale. II. the
you wish the lumber OF licenses diminish
ed, why is il not done.
"one thing, gentlemen, you make clea
o Al,